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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Superstorm Sandy, by the numbers

NBC's
Lester Holt reports from Norfolk, Va., where nearly 60 million people
are on severe storm watch as Hurricane Sandy threatens more than 800
miles of the Eastern Seaboard from Maine to South Carolina.

By NBC News staff and wire services

Updated at 8:21 p.m. ET -- Superstorm
Sandy strengthened Monday as it bore down on the East Coast, shutting
down public transportation and leading to the first weather-related
closure of U.S. stock market in 27 years.

Forecasters
say the massive storm has the potential to be one of the most damaging
ever to hit the United States. Here is a look at the figures that make
up the storm. We'll be updating these numbers throughout the day.
Number of people affected: Expected to affect between 50 million and 60 million;

Tides
are forecasted to be more than 11 feet in New York City, higher than
the city has ever seen. As a result, Wall Street could be closed for
several more days. NBC's Harry Smith reports.

Number of deaths blamed on Sandy: 65 in the Caribbean.

Size of storm: Nearly 1,000 miles wide;

States impacted: Nine states, Washington, D.C., and a coastal county in North Carolina have declared states of emergency;
Ground speed of storm: 28 miles per hour as of 2 p.m. ET Monday;
Speed of winds: 90 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extended 485 miles from the center;
Number of flights canceled: More than 10,000 flights were canceled through Tuesday, according to FlightAware.com, and that number is expected to grow into Wednesday;
Number of people told to evacuate: 375,000 in NYC; 50,000 in Delaware; 30,000 in Atlantic City, N.J.;

TODAY's
Al Roker reports from Point Pleasant, N.J., where water is starting to
come over the dunes as Hurricane Sandy strengthens. Due to the full
moon, high tides are expected to add to the storm surge, which could
rise to 11 feet.

Number of customers without power: As of 2:59 p.m. ET, 3.1 million were without power, most of them in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Heaviest rainfall: Up to 12 inches in isolated regions of Mid-Atlantic states;
Inches of snow: Up to 12
inches in some areas expected. In addition, up to three feet of snow
expected in the Appalachian Mountains from West Virginia to Kentucky;
Size of storm surge: 4 to 11 feet across much of the affected area;
Number of NYC students affected by Monday and Tuesday's school closure: 1.1 million;
Number of public transport riders without service Monday in NYC, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey: More than 10 million;

Miles of subway track closed in New York City alone: Nearly 660;
FEMA’s estimate for potential wind damage alone: $2.5 to $3 billion;
Residential properties at risk of damage: Nearly 284,000, valued at $88 billion;
Number of Atlantic City casinos shut down: 12.